Students’ celebration went too far

October 10, 2012

Hundreds of West Virginia University students went on what can only be described as a rampage Saturday night, after the WVU football team beat Texas.

At least 40 fires were set in the streets of Morgantown. That was bad enough, but what happened when a crowd estimated at more than 1,000 gathered in the city's downtown area was worse. Police called to control the crowd found themselves targets, as bottles, rocks and other objects were thrown at them. Several officers were hurt, though none was injured seriously, thank heaven.

By Sunday, Morgantown Mayor Jim Manilla was so furious he was calling for the city to collect a new $20 fee from each of the about 30,000 students at WVU's main campus. The money is needed to hire more public safety officers, Manilla said.

Clearly, some WVU students have decided out-of-control thuggery is acceptable. If it continued, serious property damage and injuries are inevitable.

Of course, Morgantown authorities should seek to identify and arrest those who attacked police officers. WVU should expel any convicted of such offenses.

This simply has to stop. Those responsible need to be taught a severe lesson about loutish, dangerous behavior.